DA
06-30-2009, 05:27 PM
Sony may have recently reaffirmed that the PlayStation 3 won't get a price cut until they're good and ready, but according to rumors being floated by Ars Technica, that could be as soon as this fall. An insider "mole" has told them that not only will the PS3 get a price cut later this year, but it'll happen along with the launch of the long-rumored "PS3 Slim." On top of that, this mole also says the Xbox 360 Elite will get a price cut later this year, as well.
According to this source, Sony plans to constrain availability of the 80GB PS3 in the next couple of months, leaving more 160GB models on store shelves. The idea, this mole says, is to then sell through a good amount of the 160GB model, leaving Sony ready to launch the PS3 Slim at a lower price point in the fall. No details were given on what that new price point will be.
As for the Xbox 360, the mole says Microsoft plans to sell through the supply of Pro models with bonuses like the Halo 3/Fable 2 bundle. Once Pros disappear from store shelves, they'll never be seen again -- Microsoft will instead drop the price of the 120GB Elite model, essentially putting it in the spot the Pro currently holds. Again, no price details were given, so it's unknown if it'll actually be cheaper than the Pro, or if the $399 Elite will simply drop to the Pro's $299 price point.
Naturally, all of this remains unconfirmed, but Ars Technica's infamous mole has had a great track record with juicy leaks in the past. But with E3 in the books, if Sony really does plan to launch a completely remodeled "PS3 Slim" before the end the year, it'll be interesting to see where and when they'd choose to make such a big announcement.
According to this source, Sony plans to constrain availability of the 80GB PS3 in the next couple of months, leaving more 160GB models on store shelves. The idea, this mole says, is to then sell through a good amount of the 160GB model, leaving Sony ready to launch the PS3 Slim at a lower price point in the fall. No details were given on what that new price point will be.
As for the Xbox 360, the mole says Microsoft plans to sell through the supply of Pro models with bonuses like the Halo 3/Fable 2 bundle. Once Pros disappear from store shelves, they'll never be seen again -- Microsoft will instead drop the price of the 120GB Elite model, essentially putting it in the spot the Pro currently holds. Again, no price details were given, so it's unknown if it'll actually be cheaper than the Pro, or if the $399 Elite will simply drop to the Pro's $299 price point.
Naturally, all of this remains unconfirmed, but Ars Technica's infamous mole has had a great track record with juicy leaks in the past. But with E3 in the books, if Sony really does plan to launch a completely remodeled "PS3 Slim" before the end the year, it'll be interesting to see where and when they'd choose to make such a big announcement.